Look how amazing this is! @matt_walton1, that's made my day! #TheInkBlackHeart https://t.co/6ahpYVesw8
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 14, 2022
Ink Black Heart Cartoon Imminent?
December 15, 2022 by 5 Comments
Thoughts for the Serious Reader of Harry Potter
Interesting concept art. It’s clear we’re dealing with a genuine talent, and it’s easy to see why Rowling herself might want to sing praises for Matt Walton’s efforts. As for the idea that this might be the start of a new IBH cartoon show? That I’m more skeptical of, at the moment, anyway. I guess the wise course of action is to take a simple “wait and see” stance, though I have to admit it seems unlikely. A more intriguing possibility is that Rowling might tap this guy to help do the special effects of Inky and the Gang for the inevitable BBC Strike adaptation. Though this in itself raises a caution flag in my mind over the question of what if she decides to use someone else. Then what?
Such an outcome wouldn’t surprise me, and since I’ve no attachment to the TV series, it really doesn’t matter much to me. I just worry that, with the state of fandom being what it is, Rowling might find herself drawn into the exact same kind of controversy she satirizes in her original book. The funny thing is how all such an outcome would do is to prove her right, “and so it goes”. I hope that gives some idea of why my initial reaction was one of, let’s call it an example of contemporary, cautious encouragement.
I’m not about to suggest that fans shouldn’t create art based off the stories they love. Especially not when I’ve seen a few samples here and there that have, on occasion, been able to enrich my own picture of a favorite story in my head. In fact, if the current toxic moment hadn’t happened, I probably wouldn’t even be expressing these doubts, and Rowling probably would never have bothered writing what Strike 6 has become. Instead, here we both are, at a current moment when both artist and audience have to tread lightly, always keeping an eye out for the “Beware the Troll” sign on the path ahead.
It’s not an ideal way to either create, enjoy, or contemplate art. Though perhaps it does count as a semi-natural hazard, or challenge that may have to be encountered or met, and if possible, mastered. I suppose that’s the truest statement of TIBH as a whole. So as a result, I give a cautious endorsement, and the advice for both artists to be careful out there. With that said, did anyone spot the Deathly Hallows symbol in the image? It’s hard to see in small resolution, here’s a better, enhanced view of Walton’s efforts where you can see it clear as day. It’s just right off to one side, right between Heart and Paperwhite:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fj896jwWIAAhTYz?format=jpg&name=large
I could be wrong, yet it’s possible the good people over at StrikeFans.com might be able to give us the context for Matt Walton’s author approved illustration. Turns out they are, or were, hosting an “Ink Black Heart” art competition. It seems, or could be, that Walton’s offering was one of the entries, and it turned out to be the one the author herself liked best of all. Consider this a showing of the rest of the competitors, then. All the relevant information on this fan contest can be found at the official, StrikeFans news page, seen here:
http://strikefans.com/the-ink-black-art-competition-submissions/
In the link provided, readers can see a few other examples of fan art that caught the attention of the other major Rowling site currently in operation. There’s not much else to say except that some of them come close to Walton’s artistry, while others are interesting for the way they fit in more with the characters as I saw them in my head. For instance, there’s this one picture of Drek who more closely resembles the character as he looks in my mind, as I was reading the story. However, which one is your favorite?
Nice find, ChrisC.
I must admit, below is the picture that formed in my mind when Strike went into the kitchen to apologize to Robin for the “your friend Pez” comment.
Strike pushed himself off the sofa and limped to the kitchen where Robin stood with [her] back to [him], stirring gravy.
“Sorry,” said Strike. “I was being a dick.”
https://i0.wp.com/strikefans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/strike-scaled-e1611692946116.jpg?fit=768%2C1024
Cormoran and Robin by @s.aust
I like the sketches by @s.aust. Some of them fit my hopes for Robin and Strike. Like this one!
https://i0.wp.com/strikefans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/PFSEGe6h.jpg?resize=1188%2C1536
Cormoran and Robin by @s.aust
was curious in any of the discussion if anyone has read Cré na Cille it was an Irish language novel that was considered extremely difficult to translate until early 2000s when it was translate twice by different acaddemics as the Dirty Dust and the Graveyard Clay.
It was also considered very cutting edge for its gritty and “offensive” language … 😀
not sure how much contact Rowling would have had with it… interesting nonetheless…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cr%C3%A9_na_Cille